Junior center fielder Raven Gray went 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI while Jillian Nobles and Lauren Dunlow also produced a hit and RBI apiece. From the circle, Mohagony Headen pitched six innings after replacing Zadasia Waddell in the top of the second. She allowed five hits although the Spartans produced three earned runs against the sophomore.

The game remained close through the first four innings as N.C. A&T kept battling back to inch closer to UNCG. After a 3-0 Spartan lead in the top of the first, the Aggies responded with a run of their own as Zadia Davis reached base on a passed ball and used her speed to steal second. With two outs on the board, Nobles doubled to right center and advanced to third on the throw as Davis crossed the plate.

N.C. A&T added another run in the bottom of the third trailing 5-1 on a fielder’s choice that allowed Davis to reach base. Gray then doubled to deep left center, which gave Davis more than enough time to tack on the score. The Aggies final run happened in the bottom of the fourth thanks to Taylor Martin coming in to pinch run for Nathaly Pacheco, who was hit by a pitch. Martin advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Talisha Jenkins sprinted home on a single to right center field to bring cut UNCG’s lead to 5-3.

A quick start by the Spartans proved to be costly for the Aggies who were forced to play catch-up for the entirety of the game. UNCG put away three home runs in the game with two coming in the first two innings to put them on top 5-1 at the end of two innings.

As N.C. A&T drew nearer, the Spartans added three more runs in the fifth as back-to-back doubles scored a run and a 2-run homer from Kayleigh Willis made it an 8-3 Spartan advantage. With two outs, UNCG would find a way to add to more runs to finish the game.

The Aggies (7-17-1) begin conference play in Orangeburg, S.C., against S.C. State March 25-26 in a three-game series that starts with a 1 p.m., doubleheader on Saturday and concludes with a 1 p.m., contest Sunday.